The Alola Region doesn't have Gyms. Instead, it has the traditional Island Challenge.
The so-called Island Challenge means the challenger travels across the four islands of Alola, overcoming various trials led by a Captain, and finally facing the Island Kahuna or Island Queen in a grand final trial.
Clear it, and you've officially completed that island's challenge.
Of course, the Island Kahuna or Island Queen will hold back a bit for the challenger. That much is a given.
Iki Town, a place known as "the town that honors Pokémon."
Here live the people who are familiar with Tapu Koko, carrying on the ancient traditions of this small town.
And it's also where Melemele Island's Island Kahuna, Hala, holds the grand trial for challengers.
Today, Iki Town was livelier than usual. For the first time in ages, a challenger had come to take on Hala's grand trial!
The square around the festival stage in the center of town was packed. A huge crowd of townsfolk had gathered to see whether this grand trial would end in success.
The festival stage was usually used for Tapu Koko's festivals, but the grand trial was held there as well.
White hair and beard, shoulders broad under a yellow haori, the burly Hala stood on the stage, looking at the girl slowly walking up to face him.
"Selene, you ready?"
"Of course I am! Bring it on, old man! I'm gonna win!"
Adjusting her beloved flowered sunhat, the bright-eyed girl flashed a huge grin, her expression excited and razor sharp.
"Heh heh… now that's the kind of face I like to see."
Feeling the fierce fighting spirit burning off the girl, Hala couldn't help but chuckle.
As Melemele Island's Island Kahuna, and currently the oldest Island Kahuna in the Alola Region—
He was more than happy to see a pure, outstanding junior Trainer like Selene. This kid… was way more impressive than his own grandson.
"Then allow me, Island Kahuna Hala, to personally guide you, challenger!"
Hala's aura shifted in an instant. He raised his right hand toward Selene, his presence solemn and authoritative.
Even a brilliant junior had to defeat him here, in this grand trial, if she wanted to keep going.
Melemele Island. Island Kahuna. Hala accepts your challenge!
Selene's very first grand trial had officially begun. Naturally, Hala was holding back—he was, after all, a veteran Four-peak-level Trainer.
In the Sun and Moon games, he was one of Alola's official Elite Four, which said plenty.
But this was just a grand trial. Of course Hala wasn't going to go all out against a rookie Trainer who hadn't even been on her journey that long.
Even so, beating Hala was no easy task.
But Selene was no ordinary Trainer!
The crowd watched the fierce battle on the festival stage with bated breath. When Selene's Dragonair finally took down Hala's Makuhita, they erupted into wild cheers.
"Selene's talent is just… straight-up monstrous~!"
In the crowd, Kukui stood with his arms folded, unable to hold back that comment. And his "monstrous" was pure praise.
One way or another, this girl who'd moved here from Kanto was just too damn impressive.
Her combat experience was shooting up at a ridiculous pace, her raising skills were outstanding, and her battle instincts were downright monstrous. It left Kukui feeling a little ashamed.
He'd once thought of himself as a prodigy Trainer too, but compared to what Selene was now, he honestly felt like he'd been pretty mediocre back then.
Look at her—how long has it even been? And she's already grown this much.
"Yeah. Selene's really incredible." Beside him, Lillie smiled softly, her fair, delicate face radiant with admiration.
"With a junior like that, Alola really is destined to rise!"
Kukui's heart was full of satisfaction and hope. Sure, Selene was originally from Kanto, but so what?
She'd moved to Alola. That made her Alolan, as far as he was concerned.
Once Selene fully grew into her potential, a "monster" like her would absolutely make the whole world sit up and take notice! Kukui had no doubt.
They said Galar's undefeated Champion, Leon, had debuted at his peak, crushing every opponent to become Galar's Champion.
But now Alola had its own future ace, Selene. There was no way she'd lose out to Leon.
"Huh? Nebby! Don't run off, Nebby!"
Lillie had been completely absorbed in the battle on stage when she suddenly felt her bag squirm. The mischievous Nebby had slipped out again.
Nebby glanced around, seemed to get its bearings, then wobbled off in that direction.
Panicking, Lillie hurried after it.
Because of the grand trial, there were just too many people around. Lillie was terrified Nebby would get lost.
"Excuse me—sorry, coming through! Nebby! Nebby, where are you?"
By the time Lillie squeezed her way out of the crowd, she realized she'd lost track of Nebby.
She let out a tired sigh, though she was pretty used to this by now, and started scanning the area.
By Nebby's usual behavior, it wouldn't go too far. Under normal circumstances, anyway.
Lillie looked around, and when her eyes fell on a tree not far away, she froze.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, spilling over the boy standing beneath the tree like ripples across a calm lake. He was looking down in front of him, his profile turned toward the girl, gentle and bright. The black of his eyes was dyed with the warm afterglow, his faint smile captivating.
He held up one hand, a pink candy pinched between his fingers, offering it to the little one in front of him. Light and shadow intertwined, the entire scene as beautiful as an oil painting brought to life.
The girl stared blankly at the boy and Nebby. The place was noisy and crowded, but right then, it was like she couldn't hear any of it.
The moment was just too peaceful and perfect—so perfect it left her a little dazed.
"What a coincidence. We meet again."
Damian had noticed the girl in the white dress standing a little ways off. He straightened up and greeted her with a smile.
"Cosmog Cosmog"
Nebby, seeing the boy's attention shift away, floated up in front of him, whining for affection.
"Okay, okay, I'll pet you, I'll pet you."
Damian's smile deepened as he gently pinched Nebby's tiny face, then pulled out another candy and popped it into Nebby's mouth.
"Cute miss, don't you recognize me?"
Seeing Lillie's dazed expression, Damian couldn't help but raise a brow.
"Ah… sorry, sir. I zoned out for a second there."
Lillie finally came back to herself at his words, her cheeks flushing red as she bowed her head, embarrassed. She'd been so rude.
And "cute" and all that…
"It's fine. I didn't expect to run into you again either. I just came to watch the Island Kahuna's grand trial, and here we are, meeting again, Miss."
Damian smiled as he spoke.
"This little one's just as energetic as last time, too."
His gaze shifted back to Nebby, the smile on his lips growing even softer.
"Yeah. Nebby's always full of energy. But… it really does seem to like you, sir."
Lillie had mostly calmed down now. Looking at the clingy Nebby, her pretty face turned a little conflicted.
If she remembered right, this handsome boy had mentioned last time that he had a knack for attracting Pokémon.